Mobile cleaning and washing plant for shopping trolleys

ABSTRACT

A mobile cleaning plant for cleaning shopping trolleys and similar transport systems includes a container configured to receive the shopping trolleys in hoxizontally stacked rows. The shopping trolleys are fed into an inlet on the container via a device, automatically pushed through the container on a conveyor system, and exit the container through an outlet positioned near the inlet. The conveyor system includes two tracks which run along the longitudinal axis of the container and are connected to each other via a third track which runs perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the container. As the inlet and outlet are positioned in proximity to one another, or are the same orifice, the mobile cleaning plant does not require decoupling from a hauling device, such as a truck, prior to operation.

BACKGROUND AND FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates in general to the field of the processtechnology of cleaning plants, and in particular to mobile cleaningsystems for shopping trolleys consisting of a plurality of cleaningstations, a new circulatory type of arrangement of the individualstations being used in order to obtain processing advantages andtherefore increased economic efficiency of the entire cleaning system.

The term “shopping trolleys” as used below refers to transportcontainers which today are principally used in large shops, grocerystores and supermarkets in order to facilitate for customers thetransportation of goods selected in the store to the cash till andoptionally the transportation of the goods purchased at the till to atransport vehicle parked in front of the store. Because of theirfrequent use and as a result of residues of products left behind asrefuse in the trolleys, said trolleys become soiled within a short timeso that it is necessary for hygienic and health reasons to subject usedshopping trolleys to thorough cleaning at regular intervals in order tomeet food hygiene regulations.

The invention relates equally to the cleaning of comparable transportdevices such as boxes, crates and other containers.

Whereas earlier shopping trolleys had to be scrubbed and washed manuallyusing chemical cleaning agents, fully automatic cleaning plants, whichcarry out the cleaning process considerably more efficiently andtherefore represent a major facilitation, are increasingly used today.In addition, when using fully automatic cleaning plants, a largeproportion of the cleaning personnel employed at the store can be saved.

Because the shopping trolleys of different stores which are to becleaned are located at different sites and must be cleaned on site, itis necessary that the automatic cleaning plant can be transported to theplace of use.

Conventional mobile cleaning and washing plants for shopping trolleys ofall kinds generally comprise at least one cleaning station, a watertreatment plant having pumps, valves, filters, pipework, containersand/or measuring instruments, a control unit, a housing in which thecomponents listed are installed and a transport device on which thehousing is mounted.

According to the prior art, various solutions to the problem of theautomatic cleaning of trolleys are available, each of these solutionsbeing optimised for a particular application. Certain limitations aretherefore associated with each of these solutions. To explain in generalterms some of the most important of these solutions, it is necessary torefer briefly to their most important aspects.

The invention proposed in German Patent DE 198 57 915 A1 relates to amobile cleaning and washing plant for shopping trolleys of all kinds inwhich a washing box together with a cleaning fluid or water treatmentplant and connecting pipes is mounted on a base frame which in turn isattached to a transport device. To clean the shopping trolleys, themobile cleaning and washing plant, when at the desired place of use, iseither placed on the supports of the base frame in front of thetransport device, or remains on the transport device during the cleaningoperation.

In the German Utility Model Application DE 298 12 683 U1, a mobilewashing container is disclosed which can be used in particular forcleaning shopping trolleys, mesh boxes and merchandise baskets. Thismobile washing container is a standard Eurocontainer. After the residualwaste has been conveyed into a collecting tray by means of a suctionfan, the transport containers to be cleaned are moved through a washinginstallation which includes high-pressure jets, movable and adjustablewashing brushes, disinfectant jets, a drying-air duct and an oil spraydevice for spraying the wheels and wheel pivots of the transportcontainers to be cleaned. Spraying of the transport containers to becleaned with a disinfectant by means of disinfectant jets speciallyprovided for this purpose ensures additional hygiene. A recirculatedwater cleaning arrangement which carries out a water treatment processis also integrated in the mobile washing container. Because it has anindependent power supply, this washing container can be used everywherewithout being dependent on external power supply arrangements.

German Utility Model Application DE 299 01 282 U1 relates to a washingsystem for shopping trolleys which is equipped with its own power supplyunit. This can be preferably a diesel unit which generates electriccurrent in order to operate the electrical, pneumatic and hydrauliccomponents contained in the washing system disclosed. The washing systemalso includes a purification component which purifies the used cleaningfluid so that said fluid needs to be changed less frequently. Inaddition, a blast air drying system is integrated to dry the shoppingtrolleys after washing. The washing system also includes componentswhich lubricate the wheels and wheel axles.

German Patent Application DE 38 28 035 C2 discloses a machine which canbe placed directly on the ground for cleaning serving trolleys, aircraftcatering trolleys, kitchen trolleys or suchlike transport vehicles forgroceries in which the vehicles are fed to the cleaning machine manuallyvia a ramp, then automatically opened, pre-washed and washed, rinsed,dried and removed again manually via a ramp. The cleaning machinecomprises successively arranged stations for pre-washing, washing,rinsing and drying the trolleys to be cleaned. Inside the cleaningmachine the trolleys are moved through the machine at least between thezones responsible for the washing and drying processes by conveyor meansinstalled in the floor of the cleaning machine. The underlying solutionof this patent application is also distinguished by the fact that one ormore collecting tanks for receiving cleaning fluid via a suction nozzleand an additional pump are connected to an intermediate tank which inturn is connected via a pressure pump for feeding and/or circulating thecleaning fluid to spraying nozzles which are mounted in both the washingand the rinsing zones.

A mobile cleaning plant for shopping trolleys is disclosed in U.S. Pat.No. 4,807,319. In this system, the shopping trolleys are pushed into thecleaning plant on a long side of the container, transported through thewashing installation inside the container by means of a conveyor beltparallel to the longitudinal axis of the container and finally areremoved from the container in the cleaned state on the opposite side.

Known from DE 199 36 906 is a cleaning plant for “small containers” inwhich the objects to be cleaned are conveyed along substantiallyvertical paths during their passage through the washing installation.

OBJECT OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of the present invention to provide a mobile cleaningplant for transport containers, in particular for shopping trolleys,which mobile cleaning plant can be economically and easily manufacturedand permits feeding of the goods to be cleaned to and/or from theinstallation plant in a favourable manner with regard to processtechnology.

This object is achieved by the features of the independent claims.Advantageous embodiments are defined in the dependent claims.

SUMMARISING DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The basic invention discloses a mobile cleaning and washing plant fortransport containers which can be economically and easily manufacturedand which achieves the object defined in the previous paragraph.

Using this mobile cleaning plant, in particular shopping trolleys, whichare fed in horizontally stacked rows to the mobile cleaning plant andremoved therefrom after cleaning, can be efficiently and quicklycleaned. It is provided that the shopping trolleys to be cleaned, whichare fed to the mobile cleaning plant in horizontally stacked rows, areautomatically separated, and that the cleaned shopping trolleys, whichare removed from the mobile cleaning plant again in rows, can beautomatically stacked. The mobile cleaning plant is therefore suited tocleaning approx. 2000 shopping trolleys per day in a completelyindependent operation.

Because the washing installation of the mobile cleaning plant accordingto the invention has a U-shaped configuration, the intake and outlet ofthe washing installation are located at the same end of the mobilecleaning plant. The resulting advantage for processing is that thecleaned shopping trolleys can be removed from the mobile cleaning plantat the same point at which the soiled trolleys are fed to the plant. Thecleaned and stacked trolleys can, therefore, be collected from the samepoint at which the soiled trolleys were delivered in a stacked formationfor cleaning, so that time-consuming manual pushing of the cleanedtrolleys back to the agreed collection point is eliminated.

The configuration of the washing installation is not restricted to theabove-mentioned U-shape. Other horizontal transport paths in the washinginstallation are possible. For example, the washing installation can beso arranged that a trolley can be inserted into the container at one endand conveyed in the container initially parallel to the longitudinalaxis of said container; they can then follow a travel section in adirection substantially transverse to the longitudinal axis of thecontainer and finally leave the container on the side opposite to theintake side again on a path parallel to the longitudinal axis.

It is also possible for a washing installation to have more than onetravel section disposed transversely to the longitudinal axis of thecontainer. This can be provided, for example, in the form of a kind ofserpentine path through of the washing installation.

Once the mobile cleaning plant for shopping trolleys of all kinds isready for operation, the trolleys, which have previously beenautomatically separated, are transported into the plant by means of achain or belt conveyor, air-blasted according to a preset programsequence, cleaned or washed, rinsed, dried and subjected to concludingspecial treatments (spraying with disinfectant and/or lubricants). Thecleaned trolleys are then removed from the cleaning plant by means ofthe chain or belt conveyor and automatically stacked one behind theother. These processes are repeated until the desired number of trolleyshas been cleaned, until the mobile cleaning plant requires maintenanceor until the available supply of clean water, cleaning agent,disinfectants and/or lubricants, heating oil, compressed air, etc., hasbeen exhausted and must therefore be replenished.

With regard to the supply of the trolleys to the washing plant and theirremoval therefrom the invention—depending on the embodiment—can have thefeatures described below.

To receive a row of horizontally stacked shopping trolleys, a conveyorramp is provided. A spring-loaded stop is located on the floor of theconveyor ramp. Guidance arrangements for the row of trolleys can alsothe mounted on the conveyor ramp. The stacked trolleys are now pushedmanually on to the conveyor ramp and up to the stop.

To fasten the trolleys and transport them onwards, an automatic conveyorshackle device is provided which comprises a shackle, a cable and alinear guidance unit. The conveyor shackle for fixing and transportingthe trolleys is first closed. The shackle can engage, for example,directly on the last trolley of the row. The conveyor shackle is drivenby means of the cable and the linear guidance unit serves to guide themovement sequence.

The conveyor ramp is then raised at the conveyor end—for example bymeans of a cable winch—to the level of the washing plant. A guidancearrangement is provided for this raising of the conveyor ramp. The rampcan preferably be provided with rollers at its opposite end to permitcompensatory movement of the ramp along the ground.

As soon as the raised end of the conveyor ramp has reached the level ofthe floor of the washing plant the winch is automatically stopped bymeans of a limit switch.

The fastening of the stop is then released and by means of theabove-described conveyor shackle arrangement the row of trolleys ismoved forwards by one trolley—i.e. by one “stacking length”. This canalso be carried out automatically.

Once the first trolley in the row has been moved past the stop, the stopautomatically moves back upright and is again fastened. The firsttrolley has now been detached from the row and is pulled into the firstwashing station of the washing plant by means of a long-chain conveyorsystem. The long-chain conveyor system is, for example, guided by railsand driven by means of toothed belts.

On completion of the washing process, the trolley is initially locatedin the last washing station. From there, it is automatically moved outby means of a chain system on to the conveyor ramp which is still at thelevel of the floor of the washing installation.

By means of a second conveyor shackle arrangement which, like thefirst-mentioned arrangement, comprises a conveyor shackle, a cable and alinear guidance unit, the trolley is captured on the conveyor ramp.

As soon as the trolley is standing fully on the conveyor ramp, it isautomatically moved forwards by one “stacking length” by means of thesecond conveyor shackle arrangement. This makes room for the followingtrolley which leaves the last washing station on completion of thewashing process.

As soon as all the trolleys of the row are located on the conveyor ramp,said ramp is lowered to the ground by means of the above-describedwinch. A guide is provided for lowering the conveyor ramp. The part ofthe ramp located on the ground is moved by means of the above-describedrollers. Finally, the conveyor shackle is opened and the row of trolleysis pushed manually from the conveyor ramp.

It should be emphasised at this point that the invention is preferablyconfigured in such a way that the above-described sequence—unlessexplicitly described otherwise—takes place automatically.

As already mentioned, the trolleys can be transported to the mobilecleaning plant stacked one behind the other. They are then automaticallyseparated by a device according to the invention before they are fed tothe mobile cleaning plant. The trolleys are removed from said cleaningplant on the same side to which they were fed and are automaticallystacked one behind the other. Decisive advantages of this system, amongothers, are that the mobile cleaning plant can be operated by only oneperson and that the plant has a far smaller space requirement incomparison to conventional cleaning plants in which shopping trolleysare guided monodirectionally through a rectilinear washing installation.The mobile cleaning plant according to the invention does not need to beuncoupled from the tractor vehicle with which the plant is transportedto enable the actions comprising the cleaning process to be carried out.The uncoupling and separation of the shopping trolleys supplied to themobile cleaning plant in stacked rows, their transportation through theplant and the bringing together of the trolleys after passing throughthe mobile cleaning plant can be adapted to different sizes and types ofshopping trolleys.

Before the wet cleaning process itself, the trolleys are blasted bymeans of a compressed air jet as part of the dry cleaning process sothat light solids can be removed and do not impede the subsequent wetcleaning.

To protect the mobile cleaning plant from the effects of frost, heatingarrangements and an automatic temperature monitoring and control systemare provided so that breakdown-free operation of the plant even atoutside temperatures below freezing point is possible.

The mobile cleaning plant for shopping trolleys according to theinvention can be composed, for example, of a total of six stations, inwhich the following cleaning processes take place successively for eachshopping trolley fed to the plant:

-   -   Station #1a: Blowing out of light solids and small dirt        particles (suggested duration: e.g. 5 seconds per trolley);    -   Station #1b: Application and effect of chemical cleaning agents        (suggested duration: e.g. 25 seconds per trolley);    -   Station #2: Washing of the trolleys with pressurised water jets        from rotating high-pressure nozzles acting on the trolleys from        five directions (from the front, the rear, the right, the left        and above), whereby it is ensured that complete surface cleaning        of the trolleys can be achieved (suggested duration: e.g. 30        seconds per trolley);    -   Station #3: Cleaning of the trolleys with rotary brushes,        automatic watering of the brushes with used water being carried        out (suggested duration: e.g. 30 seconds per trolley);    -   Station #4: Fine rinsing of the trolleys with clean water        (suggested duration: e.g. 30 seconds per trolley);    -   Station #5: Drying of the trolleys by supplying hot air        (suggested duration: e.g. 30 seconds per trolley);    -   Station #6: Final drying of the trolleys by supplying hot air        (suggested duration: e.g. 30 seconds per trolley), followed by        spraying with chemical disinfectants to kill morbific agents        and/or application of lubricants to the wheel axles of the        trolleys to reduce frictional resistance between wheels and        axles (suggested duration: e.g. 30 seconds per trolley).

To reduce the consumption of clean water during rinsing of the trolleysin station #4, an atomising device which produces a mixture of air andclean water can optionally be used. Furthermore, cleaning and re-use ofused water for cleaning the trolleys is provided in the solutionaccording to the invention. For this purpose, the soiled cleaning fluidand the used water are purified in a water treatment plant by means offilters and admixture of chemical and/or biological additives and fedback into the cleaning circuit.

As can be readily understood by an average person skilled in the art,the basic invention is not restricted to the above-describedembodiments. In addition to the features disclosed, numerousmodifications and variations are possible without deviating materiallyfrom the field of. application of the present invention, as disclosed inthe claims.

The method according to the invention can be advantageously extended,for example, to the cleaning of vehicles, storage and/or transportcontainers for merchandise, goods and objects of all kind such asshopping baskets, serving trolleys, beverage boxes, crates, barrels,boilers, tanks, refuse bins and/or containers of all kinds.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Further advantages and utilities of the basic invention result from thesubsidiary dependent claims and from the following description of apreferred embodiment of the invention which is illustrated in thefollowing drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 shows a longitudinal cross-section E-F through the shoppingtrolley feed system 120, the trolley removal system 122, the containerinterior 402 and the mobile cleaning plant 101 located therein (viewfrom above);

FIG. 2 shows a longitudinal cross-section G-H through the trolley feedsystem 120 and the container interior 402, the hinged ramps 120 and 122being in the non-raised state (side view from right);

FIG. 3 shows a longitudinal cross-section C-D through the trolley feedsystem 120, the container interior 402 and the mobile cleaning plant 101located therein, the hinged ramps 120 and 122 being in the raised state(side view from right), and

FIG. 4 shows a longitudinal cross-section A-B through the trolleyremoval system 122, the container interior 402 and the mobile cleaningplant 101 located therein, the hinged ramps 120 and 122 being in theraised state (side view from right).

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The functions of the assemblies contained in a first embodiment of thepresent invention, as illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 4, are described in moredetail below.

Cleaning Stations

In the individual cleaning stations 102, 104, 106, 108, 110, 112 and/or114 in the preferred embodiment of the basic invention, the followingcleaning processes are carried out:

Using an air blasting device in station 102, solid residues, scraps ofrefuse and/or dirt particles are blown out. The cleaning process instations 106 and 108 can be reinforced and accelerated by the supply ofchemical cleaning agents in combination with high-pressure water and/orrotating, watered brushes. According to the preferred embodiment of thebasic invention at least one rinsing process using low-pressure water iscarried out in station 110 for the cleaned trolleys in order to removeresidues of any chemical cleaning agents supplied. Drying processesusing a hot air supply are then carried out for the cleaned trolleys ineach of stations 112 and 114, to accelerate the drying of the cleanedtrolleys. On completion of the drying process, spraying of chemicaldisinfectants on the cleaned and dried trolleys can optionally becarried out in order to kill morbific agents. On completion of the lastdrying process according to the invention, an application of lubricantsfor the wheel axles of the trolleys can be provided to reduce thefrictional resistance between the wheels and axles of the trolleys andthus to increase the service life of the wheels and axles and to keepthe noise level caused by movement of the trolleys low.

To reliably avoid detrimental interaction between the individualcleaning, drying, disinfecting and maintenance operations carried out inthe separate stations 102, 104, 106, 108, 110, 112 and/or 114, andundesired mixing of used and clean water and of the chemical cleaningagents and/or disinfectants used, isolating partitions 116 can beinserted between the separate stations 102, 104, 106, 108, 110, 112and/or 114 of the mobile cleaning system 101. In this way, detrimentalinteraction between the cleaning, drying, disinfecting and maintenanceoperations carried out in the different stations, and undesired mixingof used water and clean water and of the chemical cleaning agents and/ordisinfectants used can be avoided. The partitions 116 areheight-adjustable and can be folded aside or rolled up.

The mobile cleaning plant 101 according to the invention also includesan integrated collecting trough 202 for all the stations 102, 104, 106,108, 110, 112 and/or 114 in which the used water which has been divertedaway is collected and directed into a used-water tank 320. Integrated inthis collecting trough 202 is a coarse sieve 118 and a monitoring unitwhich ensures that the air-blasted coarse dirt particles do not enterthe used-water tank 320 or block the feed pipes. Arranged after saidcoarse sieve 118 is a filter unit with exchangeable filter elements toremove fine dirt particles from the used water before the latter reachesthe used-water tank 320 to be reused for further cleaning processes.

Feeding, Conveying and Removing the Trolleys

For the ingress 402 b and egress 402 c of the trolleys, electrically,hydraulically and/or pneumatically driven feed and removal devices canbe used, for example, hinged ramps 120 and/or 122, lifting platforms,rising cylinders 304, conveyor belts 204 and/or winches 302.

The temporal coordination and control of the feed and removal of thetrolleys and of the work sequences in the individual stations 102, 104,106, 108, 110, 112 and/or 114 of the mobile cleaning system 101 arecarried out according to the preferred embodiment of the basic inventionby a central control system which additionally controls the marginalconditions required for cleaning the shopping trolleys.

These marginal conditions can be, for example, the quantity of cleanwater, lubricants and/or chemical cleaning agents and disinfectantssupplied, the quantity of used water removed, and physical parameterssuch as the temperature and/or pressure of clean water, used water,lubricants and/or chemical cleaning agents and disinfectants and thetiming of the supply and removal of these fluids.

As can be seen in particular in FIG. 1, it is provided according to thepresent invention that the intake 402 b for admitting the shoppingtrolleys to be cleaned and the outlet 402 c for the cleaned trolleys arearranged on the same side 402 a of the container 402. According to thepresent embodiment, this side is the rear end face of the container. Thepresent invention therefore departs from the known principle of washinginstallations (in which ingress and egress take place at opposite endsof the washing installation) in that the intake and the outlet arearranged at the same end of the container. This has the advantage thatthe container 402, in the manner of a semitrailer of a heavy goodsvehicle, for example, can remain on the latter and need not beuncoupled, lowered or the like during operation. Moreover, thisconfiguration has the advantage that the rear portion 320 of thecontainer 402 can be used in an economic manner to house units,containers, etc.

As can also be seen in FIG. 1, it is provided according to the presentembodiment that the actual “washing installation” includes at least twoparallel tracks. This means that at least two stations of the “washinginstallation” are arranged in a laterally offset manner with respect toeach other and to the longitudinal axis of the container 402. As aresult, a U-shaped arrangement of the washing installation is produced,the two legs of the “U” representing the tracks in which the washingstations are arranged, and the connecting link of the “U” correspondingto a conveyance of the trolleys or the like transversely to thelongitudinal axis of the container 402.

As already stated, according to the inventive mobile cleaning plant 101,the washing installation follows a substantially U-shaped path, so thatthe intake 402 b and the outlet 402 c of the washing installation arelocated at the same end 402 a of the container 402. This results in theprocessing advantage that the cleaned trolleys are removed from themobile cleaning plant at the same point at which the soiled trolleys arefed to the plant. In addition to the advantageous layout of thecontainer 402, this results in the further advantage that the cleanedand stacked trolleys can be collected from the same point to which thesoiled (stacked) trolleys were previously delivered for cleaning.Time-consuming manual pushing of the cleaned trolleys back to acollection point is therefore eliminated.

The container 402 has in its interior a floor-mounted conveyor device204 which conveys the trolleys in at least one section 102, 104 and/or106, and 110 and/or 112 substantially parallel to the longitudinal axisof the container 402, and in at least one further section 108 and/or 110substantially transversely to the longitudinal axis of the container402. The trolleys are therefore transported in three directions: first,parallel to the longitudinal axis of the container 402 into the latter(from station #1a and #1b to station #3), then transversely to thelongitudinal axis of the container 402 (from station #3 to station #4)and finally parallel to the longitudinal axis of the container 402 (fromstation #4 to station #6) and out of the latter.

For automatic conveyance of the trolleys from the ramp into the washinginstallation, a long-chain conveyor system is provided. Here, guidanceis effected by means of rails and drive by means of toothed belts.Inside the washing installation the automatic conveyance of the trolleysis effected by means of a chain drive.

The trolley is pushed from the second to the third washing station bypneumatic means. From the third to the fourth washing station conveyancetakes place transversely to the longitudinal axis of the container, thetrolley being gripped at the front by means of two pneumatic parallelgrippers and pushed into the fourth washing station by means of apneumatically driven linear unit. Conveyance from the fourth to thefifth washing station and onwards to the sixth washing station is againcarried out by pneumatic means and chain conveyor.

To feed the shopping trolleys to be cleaned to the mobile cleaning plant101 in the container 402, trolleys in K stacked rowsR_(k)≡R_(k,1)′:={STR_(k,1), . . . , STR_(k,n), . . . , STR_(k,N)} (for1≦k≦K),each row consisting of N shopping trolleys (N≈20), are pushed manuallyor mechanically on to a lowered hinged ramp 120 until the front trolleyof the row R_(k,1)′ (STR_(k,1)) touches a retaining cylinder 126 at theend of the hinged ramp 120. Next, the cable of a winch 302, the end ofwhich is provided with a special hook, is hooked on to the last trolleyof the row R_(k,1)′ (STR_(k,N)). Then the hinged ramp 120 is raised bymeans of the rising cylinder 304. As this happens, the winch 302, whichmay be arranged above or below the trolleys of the row R_(k,1)′,maintains the trolleys in position. After the hinged ramp 120 has beenraised, the last N−1 trolleys STR_(k,2) to STR_(k,N) of the row R_(k,1)′are conveyed by means of the winch 302 up to the retaining cylinder 126at the end of the hinged ramp 120, the first trolley of the row R_(k,1)′(STR_(k,1)) being separated from the row R_(k,1)′ by means of anautomatic separating mechanism consisting of a cylinder 124 forlongitudinal conveyance. of the trolleys and slave cylinders 128 mountedtransversely to the longitudinal axis of cylinder 124.

After the first trolley (STR_(k,1)) has been separated the remaining rowwill be denoted below byR_(k,2)′:={STR_(k,2), . . . , STR_(k,N)}⊂R_(k,1)′ (for 1≦k≦K).Once the trolley STR_(k,l) separated from the row R_(k,1)′ has beentransported into the mobile cleaning plant 101, the winch 302 maintainsthe trolleys in position or again transports the remaining N−2 trolleysof the row R_(k,2)′ (STR_(k,3) to STR_(k,N)) up to the retainingcylinder 126 at the end of the hinged ramp 120, the first trolley of therow R_(k,2)′ (STR_(k,2)) at the same time being separated from the rowR_(k,2)′ by means of the above-mentioned automatic separation mechanismconsisting of the cylinder 124 for longitudinal conveyance of thetrolleys and the slave cylinders 128 mounted transversely to thelongitudinal axis of the cylinder 124.

The row remaining after the separation of the nth trolley (STR_(k,n))will be denoted in general below asR_(k,n+1)′:={STR_(k,n+1), . . . , STR_(k,N)}œR_(k,n)′œ . . . œR_(k,1)′(for 1≦k≦K).For 1≦n≦N−2 the following steps are then carried out:

Once the trolley STR_(k,n) separated from the row R_(k,n)′ has beentransported into the mobile cleaning plant 101, the winch 302 maintainsthe trolleys in position or again transports the remaining N−(n+1)trolleys of the row R_(k,n+1)′ (STR_(k,n+2) to STR_(k,N)) up to theretaining cylinder 126 at the end of the hinged ramp 120, the firsttrolley of the row R_(k,n+1)′ (STR_(k,n+1)) at the same time beingseparated from the row R_(k,n+1)′ by means of the above-mentionedautomatic separation mechanism consisting of the cylinder 124 forlongitudinal conveyance of the trolleys and the slave cylinders 128mounted transversely to the longitudinal axis of the cylinder 124.

In the last step after the separation of the (N−1)thtrolley(STR_(k,N−1)), only the “row”R_(k,N)′:={STR_(k,N)}œR_(k,N−1)′ . . . œ . . . œR_(k,1)′ (for 1≦k≦K)remains behind, consisting of a single trolley (STR_(k,N)). This lasttrolley (STR_(k,n)) is then transported by means of the winch 302 intothe mobile cleaning plant 101.

Automatic separation of the trolleys fed to the mobile cleaning plant

As was mentioned above, the automatic separating mechanism operates bymeans of pneumatically or hydraulically actuated retaining cylinders 126and slave cylinders 128 mounted transversely to the longitudinal axis ofa cylinder 124 which is used for longitudinal conveyance of thetrolleys. The cylinder 124 has two associated slave cylinders 128 whichin each case engage behind the four wheels of a trolley to betransported into the mobile cleaning plant 101. Once the cylinder 124has reached its stop position after longitudinally conveying a trolleySTR_(i), the front wheels of the trolley STR_(i) concerned are locatedon a chain or belt conveyor 204 and are transported further thereon.During actuation of the cylinder 124, the retaining cylinders 126maintain the next trolley STR_(i+1) in its position so that itspredecessor (STRI) can be fed to the mobile cleaning plant 101. Once thetrolley STR_(i) is in the mobile cleaning plant 101 the retainingcylinders 126 release the trolley STR_(i+1) so that it can be moved intothe stop position by the winch 302. The chain or belt conveyor 204 ispreferably arranged in the floor of the container 402 and equipped withspecial catch units by means of which the trolleys are moved through themobile cleaning plant 101. These catch units preferably engage behindthe wheels of a trolley.

Energy Supply of the Mobile Cleaning Plant

For the self-sufficient energy supply of all electrically, hydraulicallyand/or pneumatically driven feed, cleaning and removal devices for thetrolleys at least one power generator can be used to ensure that themobile cleaning plant 101 can be operated independently of externalenergy sources.

Further Features of Preferred Embodiments of the Solution According tothe Invention

In the preferred embodiment of the basic invention, the unlocking of thecoin-operated locks of the trolleys before feeding the trolleys into themobile cleaning plant 101, and the locking of the coin-operated locks ofthe trolleys after removal of the trolleys from the mobile cleaningplant 101 are done manually. The invention can, however, be extended ina simple manner to include an automatic unlocking and locking mechanism.

The solution according to the invention also provides a water treatmentplant which purifies the used water produced and captured after eachcleaning process by making use of chemical and/or biological additives,so that it can be reused for further cleaning processes. For thispurpose, there is provided at least one collecting trough 202, agrating, a coarse sieve 118 and/or a filter with exchangeable filterelements for collecting used water and capturing coarse and/or fine dirtparticles located therein to ensure that cleaned used water can bereused to clean trolleys after being conducted back into the mobilecleaning plant 101.

To protect the mobile cleaning plant 101 from the effects of frost, aheating device with temperature monitoring can additionally be provided.

In addition, the mobile cleaning plant 101 in the preferred embodimentof the basic invention also includes

-   -   numerous pumps for supplying and removing clean and used water,        cleaning agents, disinfectants and lubricants;    -   numerous valves serving to prevent backflow, as blocking devices        and/or pressure-reducing devices;    -   filters for cleaning the soiled used water;    -   pipework for the supply and removal of clean and used water,        cleaning agents, disinfectants and lubricants;    -   containers or tanks for storing fresh and used water, cleaning        agents, disinfectants, lubricants and heating oil;    -   measuring instruments to measure liquid levels, temperature and        pressure;    -   a device for regulating the operating temperature;    -   a blower device for blowing out fine dirt particles;    -   a blower device for supplying hot air for the drying processes,        and    -   a water treatment plant for purification of the soiled used        water,        which are not represented in the Figures for reasons of clarity.

The meanings of the symbols in FIGS. 1 to 4 which are provided withreference numerals can be found in the attached list of referencenumerals.

List of Reference Numerals

No. Symbol 100 Longitudinal cross-section E-F through the shoppingtrolley feed system, the trolley removal system, the container interiorand the mobile cleaning plant located therein (view from above) 101Mobile cleaning plant consisting of a total of six cleaning stations 102Station #1a: blowing out of light solids and small dirt particles(suggested duration: e.g. 5 seconds per trolley) 104 Station #1b:application and effect of chemical cleaning agents (suggested duration:e.g. 25 seconds per trolley) 106 Station #2: washing of the trolleyswith pressurised water jets from rotating high-pressure nozzles actingon the trolleys from five directions (from the front, the rear, theright, the left and above), whereby it is ensured that complete surfacecleaning of the trolleys can be achieved (suggested duration: e.g. 30seconds per trolley) 108 Station #3: cleaning of the trolleys withrotary brushes, automatic watering of the brushes with used water beingcarried out (suggested duration: e.g. 30 seconds per trolley) 110Station #4: fine rinsing of the trolleys with clean water (suggestedduration: e.g. 30 seconds per trolley) 112 Station #5: drying of thetrolleys by supplying hot air (suggested duration: e.g. 30 seconds pertrolley) 114 Station #6: final drying of the trolleys by supplying hotair, followed by spraying with chemical disinfectants to kill morbificagents and/or application of lubricants to the wheel axles of thetrolleys to reduce frictional resistance between wheels and axles(suggested duration: e.g. 30 seconds per trolley for each operation) 116Partition between the different stations 118 Coarse sieve withmonitoring unit for retaining blown out solid dirt particles 120 Hingedramp for feeding the trolleys into the mobile cleaning plant beforestart of cleaning 122 Hinged ramp for removing trolleys from the mobilecleaning plant and stacking trolleys on completion of cleaning 124Cylinder for longitudinal conveyance of the trolleys to the chain orbelt conveyor 204 126 Retaining cylinder mounted transversely to thelongitudinal axis of cylinder 124 and serving as the stop point forseparating the front trolley from trolleys fed to the mobile cleaningplant in stacked rows 128 Slave cylinder mounted transversely to thelongitudinal axis of cylinder 124 which engages behind the front wheelsof a trolley separated from its row and detaches the trolley from therow through the longitudinal motion of cylinder 124 200 Longitudinalcross-section G-H through the trolley feed system and the containerinterior, the hinged ramps 120 and 122 being in the non-raised state(side view from right) 202 Trough for collecting used water andconducting same to a used-water tank 204 Chain or belt conveyor in thefloor of the container, equipped with special catch units by means ofwhich the trolleys are conveyed through the mobile cleaning plant 300Longitudinal cross-section C-D through the trolley feed system, thecontainer interior and the mobile cleaning plant located therein, thehinged ramps 120 and 122 being in the raised state (side view fromright) 302 Winch for retaining and conveying further the trolleys forautomatic feeding of same into the mobile cleaning plant 304 Risingcylinder for feeding the trolleys into the mobile cleaning plant 306High-pressure pump 308 Low-pressure pump 310 Control unit forcoordinating the time sequences of the cleaning processes and forregulating physical parameters (temperature, pressure) 312 Generator forautonomous power supply for all units used 314 Combined storage tank forclean water and used water 316 Tanks for clean and used water, cleaningagent, disinfectants, lubricants and heating oil 318 Filter unit withexchangeable filter elements for removing fine dirt particles from theused water 320 Liquid tank with separating membrane for two differentliquid media 400 Longitudinal cross-section A-B through the trolleyremoval system, the container interior and the mobile cleaning plantlocated therein, the hinged ramps 120 and 122 being in the raised state(side view from right) 402 Semitrailer or container as housing for themobile cleaning plant into which the trolleys to be cleaned areintroduced and from which they are removed in the cleaned state  402aRear end of the semitrailer or container 402  402b Intake for feedingthe trolleys to be cleaned into the mobile cleaning plant  402c Outletfor removing the cleaned trolleys from the mobile cleaning plant

1. A mobile cleaning system for shopping trolleys and transport devices,comprising: a container into which the shopping trolleys to be cleanedare introduced and from which they are removed in a cleaned state,wherein devices for cleaning the shopping trolleys being provided in thecontainer, wherein the container comprises a conveyor device for theshopping trolleys, including two tracks which run substantially parallelto a longitudinal axis of the container, wherein the two tracks arejoined by a third linear track for a lateral offset of the shoppingtrolleys, and the third linear track runs substantially transversely tothe longitudinal axis, and wherein the trolleys are introduced into andremoved from the container in substantially the same orientation bymeans of said two tracks which run substantially parallel to thelongitudinal axis of the container.
 2. A mobile cleaning systemaccording to claim 1, wherein the conveyor device is incorporated in afloor.
 3. A mobile cleaning system according to claim 1, wherein in atleast one section, the conveyor device conveys the shopping trolleysinto the container substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis ofthe container and in at least one further section conveys them out ofthe container substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of thecontainer.
 4. A mobile cleaning system according to claim 1, wherein anintake for introducing the shopping trolleys to be cleaned and an outletfor the shopping trolleys in a cleaned state are arranged on a same sideof the container.
 5. A mobile cleaning system according to claim 1,wherein an intake and an outlet are formed by a connected opening in thecontainer.
 6. A mobile cleaning system according to claim 1, wherein thecontainer has substantially a form of a parallelepiped and both anintake and an outlet for the shopping trolleys are arranged at one endface of the container.
 7. A mobile cleaning system according to claim 1,wherein a liquid tank with a separating membrane for two differentliquid media is provided in the container in an area remote from anintake and an outlet.
 8. A mobile cleaning system according to claim 1,wherein at least two spatially separated stations are provided in thecontainer in which the shopping trolleys are treated for a set duration.9. A mobile cleaning system according to claim 8, wherein isolatingpartitions which are height-adjustable and can be folded aside or rolledup are inserted between the spatially separated stations of the mobilecleaning system.
 10. A mobile cleaning system according to claim 8,wherein a central regulation and control system is provided for temporalcoordination and control of a feeding and a removal of the shoppingtrolleys and of at least one work sequence in the spatially separatedstations of the mobile cleaning system.
 11. A mobile cleaning systemaccording to claim 1, further comprising an electrically, hydraulicallyor pneumatically driven device, provided for intake and outlet of theshopping trolleys, wherein the driven device comprises a hinged ramp, alifting platform, a rising cylinder, a conveyor belt, or a winch.
 12. Amobile cleaning system according to claim 1, wherein in addition toshopping trolleys, vehicles, storage, and transport containers formerchandise, goods and objects of all kinds, such as shopping baskets,serving trolleys, beverage boxes, crates, barrels, boilers, tanks,refuse bins and containers of all kinds that can be cleaned.
 13. Amethod for cleaning shopping trolleys whereby the shopping trolleys areintroduced into a container, cleaned, and removed therefrom after beingcleaned, devices for cleaning the shopping trolleys being provided inthe container, wherein the shopping trolleys are conveyed into thecontainer in two sections arranged substantially parallel to alongitudinal axis of the container and in a further linear section arearranged substantially transverse to the longitudinal axis of thecontainer, and wherein the trolleys are introduced into and removed fromthe container in substantially the same orientation by means of twotracks which run substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of thecontainer.
 14. A method according to claim 13, wherein the shoppingtrolleys are conveyed by means of a conveyor device incorporated in afloor.
 15. A method according to claim 13, wherein in at least onefurther section the shopping trolleys are conveyed into the containersubstantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the container and inat least one third section are conveyed out of the containersubstantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the container.
 16. Amethod according to claim 13, wherein a feeding in of the shoppingtrolleys to be cleaned and a removal of cleaned shopping trolleys in acleaned state take place at a same side of the container.
 17. A methodaccording to claim 13, wherein a feeding in and removal of the shoppingtrolleys are effected by means of a connected opening in the container.18. A method according to claim 13, wherein the container hassubstantially a form of a parallelepiped and both a feeding in and aremoval of the shopping trolleys take place at a same end face of thecontainer.
 19. A method according to claim 13, wherein the shoppingtrolleys are treated in the container for a set duration in at least twospatially separate stations.